The business tax hub has three calculators: one for the payroll remittances an employer sends the CRA, one for the corporate income tax a small company owes on its profit, and one that compares paying yourself in salary or dividends. Each works by province for the 2026 tax year, so an owner can estimate the cash needed before a bill arrives.
Owning a business means two tax jobs at once. You pay tax on the profit, and you send the CRA whatever you held back from employees. Slip up on either and interest and penalties follow, which makes an early estimate cheaper than a late fee.
Which tool should an owner open first?
- Payroll Remittance Calculator
Estimate what an employer sends the CRA each pay period: source deductions plus the employer share.
- Salary vs Dividends Calculator
Compare what an owner-manager keeps from salary, eligible dividends and non-eligible dividends.
- Corporate Tax Calculator
Estimate federal and provincial corporate income tax for a small business or a general corporation.
If you have staff, start with the payroll remittance calculator. It shows what you owe the CRA on each pay run, both the employee and employer shares. How often you remit depends on your remitter type, which the CRA payroll page links to along with the rest of the employer tasks. Keep a record of every pay run so the amounts you send match your year-end slips.
How much tax does my corporation pay on its profit?
The corporate tax calculator applies the small business rate to eligible income and the general rate to the rest, using the province where your company is based. The CRA’s corporation tax rates page puts the federal net rate for a Canadian-controlled private corporation claiming the small business deduction at 9%, and each province adds its own rate on top.
For most companies the tax is due within two months after the year end, or three months for some small ones, while the return itself is filed within six months. Setting money aside each month makes that bill easier to carry.
Is it better to pay myself a salary or dividends?
The answer changes with your province and your income, so the salary vs dividends calculator compares salary, eligible dividends and non-eligible dividends from a small corporation and shows what you keep after corporate and personal tax. To price the salary side on its own, use the payroll deductions calculator. For the dividend side, the dividend tax calculator shows the personal tax. A sole proprietor has no corporation to pay anything, so the self-employed tax calculator is the better fit.
What does a first hire cost?
Before you hire, price the position with the take-home pay calculator, the vacation pay calculator and the overtime pay calculator. The guide to self-employment and small business covers the wider picture.
These results are estimates for planning and cash flow. Your accountant should confirm the amounts you file.
Frequently asked questions
How often do I have to remit payroll deductions?
It depends on the size of your average monthly withholding. Most small employers remit monthly, and larger ones remit more often.
What's the small business rate?
A lower rate on the first part of active business income earned by a Canadian-controlled private corporation. The CRA puts the federal net rate with the small business deduction at 9%, and each province adds its own rate.
Do I pay tax twice, as the company and personally?
Yes. The company pays tax on its profit, and you pay personal tax on any salary or dividends you take out.
Can I file with these results?
No. They help with planning and cash flow. Filing a return takes your full books and records.
When is corporate tax due in Canada?
For most companies the tax is due within two months after the year end, or three months for some small ones. The return itself is filed within six months after the year end.
Should I pay myself a salary or dividends?
It depends on your province, your income and how much the corporation keeps. Salary is deductible to the company and adds CPP, while dividends come after corporate tax. The salary vs dividends calculator compares what you keep.